Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Monday 28 April 2014

EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTRAL (Falco tinnunculus) male at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain

 
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The Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. Alternative names include European Kestrel, Common Kestrel or simply referred to as a Kestrel. This falcon occurs throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 
More recently, the British and Irish populations have been in serious decline which may be as a result of changes in agricultural practices and  increased use of rodenticides (rat poisons). Nest predation by Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Grey Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Common Raven (Corvus corax), whose populations have increased, may also be a factor.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 27 April 2014

EURASIAN KESTREL or COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus female at Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain

 

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Click external link here for detailed species information
  Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls
   
The Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small bird of prey of the family Falconidae which is in the genus Falco. Alternative names include European Kestrel, Common Kestrel or simply referred to as a Kestrel. This falcon occurs throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 
More recently, the British and Irish populations have been in serious decline which may be as a result of changes in agricultural practices and  increased use of rodenticides (rat poisons). Nest predation by Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Grey Crow (Corvus cornix), Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) and Common Raven (Corvus corax), whose populations have increased, may also be a factor.
 
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

Sunday 20 April 2014

GRIFFON VULTURE (Gyps fulvus) José Antonio Valverde Visitor Centre, Doñana National Park, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain


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The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) or Eurasian Griffon is a large Old World bird of prey in family Accipitridae which is in the genus Gyps. It breeds on crags in mountains in southern Europe, North Africa and Asia. Griffon vultures may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Juveniles and immature individuals may migrate far or embark on long distance movements. Like other vultures, it is a scavenger, feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead animals which it finds by soaring over open areas, often moving in flocks. 
 Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffon_vulture

 Distribution map
 

Source:  By The Engineer - Own work based on: BlankMap-World-NoAntarctica.png by user Sting, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131341

Thursday 17 April 2014

SQUACCO HERON Ardeola ralloides Lucio de la Rianzuela, Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Andalucia, Spain

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The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) is resident south of the Sahara Desert in western, eastern and south eastern Africa, including Madagascar. There is also a small population in Morocco and Tunisia on the North West African coast. This small heron occurs as a summer resident in central and southern Europe as well as in western central Asia. In the autumn, it migrates back to Africa to spend the winter months there. Its diet includes frogs, lizards, small fish and a wide variety of invertebrates. Text © www.rawbirds.com

Wednesday 16 April 2014

LUCIO DE LA RIANZUELA, Dehesa de Abajo, Saville, Andalucia, Spain

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GREATER FLAMINGO [Immature] (Phoenicopterus roseus) Lucio de la Rianzuela, Dehesa de Abajo, Seville, Spain


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The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread  flamingo of the family Phoenicopteridae which is in the genus Phoenicopterus. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe. Sub-adult flamingos are whitish-grey and only attain the pink coloration several years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds. Secretions of the urpoygial gland  also contain carotenoids. During the breeding season, Greater Flamingos increase the frequency of their spreading of uropygial secretions over their feathers and thereby enhance their colour.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_flamingo

Monday 14 April 2014

GREATER FLAMINGO [Adult] (Phoenicopterus roseus) Charco de la Boca, Doñana National Park, Almonte, Huelva, Spain


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Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls
The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread  flamingo of the family Phoenicopteridae which is in the genus Phoenicopterus. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe. Sub-adult flamingos are whitish-grey and only attain the pink coloration several years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds. Secretions of the urpoygial gland  also contain carotenoids. During the breeding season, Greater Flamingos increase the frequency of their spreading of uropygial secretions over their feathers and thereby enhance their colour.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_flamingo